Dyna Gitel Wise

Dyna Gitel Wise (nee Tenenbaum) December 18, 1921-August 27, 2018 Dyna Wise often said that she was spared the direct horror of the Holocaust for a reason. As a result, she dedicated her life to her loving husband and two daughters, charitable work, and the mitzvah (blessing) of doing good deeds. Dyna was guided by her strong faith. In addition to English, she was fluent in Hebrew and Yiddish and spoke some Polish and Russian. She was loved by and an inspiration to many. Dyna Wise was born in Kobrin, Poland (now Belarus) to Menachem Zalman and Golda Tenenbaum. Dyna, not yet 18, immigrated to the United States in August 1939. The remaining family that included her widowed mother and 2 brothers were to follow. However, WWII intervened and she lost all but one member of her European family. Dyna’s ship was sunk on its return, as Hitler invaded Poland September 1, 1939. Her brother Paltiel Arzi (deceased) survived the Holocaust and settled in Israel. Dyna Wise tirelessly worked to support the State of Israel and visited the country over 25 times. She was an early supporter of the Hebrew University, Israeli cancer research, and the Technion. She was a dedicated volunteer in many Jewish organizations including NA’AMAT, Jewish War Veterans Women’s Auxiliary, and Women’s American ORT (Now ORT AMERICA) for which she served as regional chair and national board member. She avidly pursued charitable and synagogue activities, most recently with the Ner Tamid Egalitarian Minyan. In addition to her volunteer activities, Dyna Wise helped support her family, operating a number of small businesses and holding part-time jobs. Then in her early 40’s, she completed her Bachelors in Hebrew Studies at Spertus College to become a Hebrew teacher and tutor until retirement in her mid-70s. This is when she volunteered to teach Yiddish at the Bernard Horwich Jewish Community Center where she won a Volunteer of the Year Award. Dyna Wise resided at the Selfhelp Home in Chicago since 2015, where she taught classes in Yiddish. She died of natural causes. She is survived by her loving family: her daughters Selma Wise Burley and Shirley Wise-Szopo; her son-in-law John Burley; grandchildren Lawrence Burley (m. Emily nee Friedman), Danny Szopo (m. Breanna nee Bode) and Juleah Szopo (partner Dean Fefopoulos); and, her great-grandchildren Riley and Quinn Szopo and Lucy Louise Burley as well as her brother’s family and niece Leah. Dyna Wise joins her beloved deceased husband of 55 years Irvin and son-in-law Frank Szopo in final peace. Chapel service, Monday 12:15 PM at Shalom Memorial Funeral Home, 1700 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. Interment Shalom Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the Ner Tamid Ezra Habonim Egalitarian Minyan or Unity Hospice. For information or condolences, (847) 255-3520 or www.shalommemorial.org.

---

Service Information

Service : Monday, September 3rd at 12:15 pm
Service Location: Shalom Chapel Service -Shalom Memorial Funeral Home

Interment:
Shalom Memorial Park
1700 W. Rand Road
Arlington Heights